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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. R. S. DIXON.

VACUUM PRESBRVING- APPARATUS. No. 489,125. Patented 001;. 28, 1890.

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B. S. DIXON. VACUUM PRESBRVING APPARATUS.

No. 439,125. Patented Oct. 28, 1890.

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UNIT D STATES- PATENT OFFICE,

ROBERT S. DIXON, OF SYDNEY, NET/V SOUTH ALES.

VACU U M PRESERVI N G APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 439,125, dated October 28, 1890.

Application filed September 16, 1889- Serial No. 324,095. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatI, ROBERT STANTON DIXON, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, and a resident of Sydney, in the Colony of New South ales, Australia, have invented certain Improvements in Vacuum Preserving Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

In any convenient position and as an attachment to the air-chamber is placed an air-pump of suitable dimensions and form. Within the air-chamber and installed, preferably, in corners and angles are one or more perforated air-tubes, the perforations of which are directed toward the adjacent angles or sides of the chamber, for reasons to be hereinafter explained. These perforated air-tubes communicate with the outer atmosphere by means of high-pressure induction cocks or valves.

The air-chamber may be constructed of any capacity, varying from two cubic feet for the use of private families to five hundred cubic feet for wholesale dealers. It is considered advisable not to construct the chamber of a greater capacity than five hundred cubic feet; but were suitable exhausting appliances available there is no reason why the capacity of the chamber should not be increased.

In chambers of the dimensions of an ordinary meat-safe angle-irons (the webs of which are turned inward) are riveted to the sides of the air-chamber, so as to form supports for shelves or trays that will carry the perishable contents of the chamber. If, on the other hand, the dimensions of the chamber are such that the chamber shall be capable of containing carcasses, then the angle-irons should be riveted to the sides of the chamber, but near the roof or ceiling, so as to afford supports for the cross-beams upon which the carcasses are hung. On the chamber being filled with the articles tobe preserved the door is closed and screwed up or otherwise fixed until it forms a hermetically-closed joint. The airpump is then worked by the attendant until a vacuum-gage (that is fixed outside the wall of the chamber) indicates that the required *acuum is obtained. Nhen it is desired to draw the contents of the safe, one or more of the induction-valves are slightly opened.

The outer air will then rush with force into the internal perforated air-tubes and be projected toward the angles or sides of the chamber, where the force of the current of air will be broken and the air distributed more evenly throughout the chamber.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the chamber, showing the arrangement of the door-fastenings, hinges, air-pump,vacuum-gage,and induction-valves. Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line 1 2 of Fig. 1, while Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3 L of Fig. 2.

AAare the outer walls of the air-chamber.

B is the door, which is swung in the center at Z) on doubly-articulated hinges O. This arrangement of hinge is devised for the purpose of enabling the doorB to be closed square on its seat. The door, the seat, or both should be packed or lined in any convenient and efficient manner, so as to render the joint thus formed perfectly air-tight. The door is screwed up tight on its seat, preferably by means of one or more curved bars or bows D, the ends of which take underlugs d cl, secured to the front wall of the chamber outside the door-seat. (See Figs. 1 and 2.) At the center of the curved bar or how D is a tapped boss E, through which passes a tighteningscrew F, the point of which bears against the center of the door. As the screwF is screwed down the bow E is forced outward, pressing against the lugs d, while the door B is forced inward tight against its seat.

The air-pump G is shown in the drawings, Figs. 1 and 2, at the right-hand side of the air-chamber, and may be of any construction found to be the best adapted for the purpose. The high-pressure induction valves or cocks J may be seen in the drawings placed on the opposite side of the chamber to the air-pump.

In Figs. 2 and 3 may be seen the arrangement of internal perforated air-tubes H, which are intended to distribute the air that is admitted to the interior of the chamber through the induction valves or cocks J. The perforations j are turned outward toward the Walls or angles of the chamber, against which the air-tubes may be placed,thus causing the strength of the current of air as it rushes from the tubes into the chamber to be broken against the sides and angles of the chamber and be thus more evenly distributed throughout.

I is the vacuum-gage that may be placed inaconvenientposition near the air-pump G. (See Fig. 1.)

In Fig. 3 may be seen the angle-irons K, riveted to the walls of the chamber for the purpose of supporting the cross-beams upon which the carcasses are hung.

I11 Very large chambers, where the atmospheric pressure would be very great, the walls of the chamber may be strengthened either internally or externally by stays.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is The combination, with an air-tight chamber having a hermetically-closed door, of a system of perforated internal air-tubes, the perforations of which are turned toward the angles or sides of the chamber, the said internal airtubes being in communication with the outer atmosphere by means of high-pressure cocks or valves, as specified, as illustrated in the drawings, and for the purposes herein set forth.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT S. DIXON.

Witnesses:

MANFIELD NEWTON,

Civil Engineer. G. W. GRIFFIN,

U. S. Consul. 

